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Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese roadside stations (michi-no-eki) are not explicitly permitted and often fall into a gray area. The author, who lived in a motorhome for 19 months, shares the rules he followed to avoid inconveniencing other visitors.
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Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese roadside stations (michi-no-eki) are not explicitly permitted and often fall into a gray area. The author, w...
Overnight stays in motorhomes at Japanese roadside stations (michi-no-eki) are not explicitly permitted and often fall into a gray area. The author, who lived in a motorhome for 19 months, shares the rules he followed to avoid inconveniencing other visitors.
Japan — fuel prices
Updated: 01.08.2026
Regular
$1.05 /l
JPY165.56 · €0.91/l
28 of 140
cheaper than 81% of countries
High-octane
$1.11 /l
JPY174.34 · €0.96/l
14 of 94
cheaper than 86% of countries
軽油
$0.96 /l
JPY150.84 · €0.83/l
20 of 141
cheaper than 87% of countries
Best regions in the coming days
Country overview
Avg. score
45
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Despite being free 24-hour rest facilities, Japan's roadside stations (Michinoeki) and service/parking areas are experiencing ongoing issues due to some users treating them as overnight camping sites. The core problem is a widespread misunderstanding: users are confusing 'car camping' for leisure with the permitted act of taking a short nap for driver safety. Authorities clarify that while short naps are acceptable, using these public spaces for overnight stays, cooking, or recreational activities is discouraged.
Japan
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Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has clarified that short rest stops in RVs at 'michi-no-eki' stations are allowed, but long-term stays are not. With RV numbers reaching 165,000 by 2024, complaints about hair washing in toilets and BBQ on parking lots have increased.
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